Novel set in FRANCE, INDIA and ENGLAND

24th February 2025

The Lantern’s Dance by Laurie R King, novel set in France (around Paris and Nîmes), India (Calcutta), England (the Midlands)

Laurie R King’s The Lantern’s Dance is the latest in a long series featuring Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell. This richly descriptive book is obviously well researched and appears to be faithful to the original Conan Doyle texts, as well as being a thoroughly entertaining mystery in its own right. I found the occasional references to Conan Doyle in the text very funny! The story is told by Mary Russell, though alternate chapters are narrative that focusses on Holmes’ activities, allowing the reader to understand events that Russell doesn’t witness directly. I believe that those who are familiar with books about Sherlock Holmes will enjoy the extra dimension provided by Mary Russell’s viewpoint and her excellent detective skills.

The book begins with Holmes and Russell attempting to put their latest adventure behind them. They are travelling to France to spend restorative time with Holmes’ son, Damian, and his family. When the pair arrive, they find the family have fled after an apparent threat to their lives from a machete-bearing intruder of Indian appearance. Holmes sets out to discover their whereabouts, but Russell is unable to accompany him. Sitting in Damian’s cottage, Russell occupies herself with a project that she hopes might help to explain the sudden drama. She examines the contents of several old boxes that had belonged to a distant relative of Damian, finding a zoetrope, some paintings and a mysterious coded journal. The two detectives are on separate courses but their individual sleuthing finally combines to brings about a surprising and satisfying ending.

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The settings are described in incredible detail and this enhances, rather than distracts from, the action. Naturally in a mystery we are complicit with the main characters in attempting to discover the clues and solve the problems, so a certain amount of sleight of hand and distraction is to be expected. The clever descriptions are sometimes red herrings. On the other hand, sometimes little details foreshadow discoveries later in the book. There is lots of period detail that will appeal to those who love 19^th century history, especially where it concerns France and India. I hadn’t read the previous books in King’s series but would happily do so, based on The Lantern’s Dance. While there are some mentions of previous adventures involving the key characters, it isn’t necessary to have read them to understand and enjoy this novel. Heartily recommended.

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